It has been a day and evening – or street and residential – turnaround for Mikal Bridges in his first two video games with the Knicks.
Any concern about his wayward taking pictures seems to be behind him.
Bridges made his regular-season debut on the Backyard with 21 factors on 8-of-12 taking pictures in A 123-98 Knicks win over the Pacers.
“It was dope, man,” Bridges stated. “Simply the joy right here; it is actually loopy. I am simply pleased with the win.”
Bridges left to a standing ovation from his new dwelling crowd with the Knicks main by 28 with 9:30 left within the fourth quarter.
Bridges, who was acquired by the Nets over the summer season, made 15 of 20 shot makes an attempt over his last six quarters after lacking his first 5 photographs, together with 4 from 3-point vary, in a scoreless first half Tuesday evening in opposition to the Celtics.
He had additionally mentioned tinkering along with his shot whereas taking pictures 2-of-19 from 3-point vary within the preseason.
“When you concentrate on it logically, I believe the place we’re right this moment, with social media, everyone desires to have an opinion on all the things,” Tom Thibodeau stated. “But the man who does the work on daily basis, whenever you watch him work, you understand how a lot he places into it, after which his quantity of labor.
“Nobody goes to shoot nice for 82 video games. Quite a lot of occasions you are in preseason and also you’re simply making an attempt to work issues out and get right into a rhythm and also you’re making an attempt to determine a brand new system and new teammates. And on daily basis it will get higher and higher. But when you concentrate on it logically, this man has shot virtually 38 p.c from 3 for his profession. Me, I would wager on it.
Bridges was additionally torched in that recreation by All-Star ahead Jayson Tatum, who buried eight of Boston’s NBA-record 29 threes.
However he additionally improved dramatically on the defensive finish Friday evening, serving to maintain Pacers All-Star Tyrese Haliburton scoreless.
Imported middle Karl-Anthony Cities additionally had a extra impactful recreation Friday than his quiet 12-point, seven-rebound evening in Boston, ending with 21 factors, 15 boards and two blocks in 32 minutes.
“I believed Carl had a monster recreation,” Thibodeau stated.
